Improvement in feather-renovators



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E. SCHMIDT. Feather-Renovator. 7 No. 215,167. Patented May 6, 1879.

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MPEIERS. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPMER, WASHINGTON- D O.

UNITED STATES PATENT EDWARD SCHMIDT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

lM PROVEM ENT IN FEATH E-R-RENOVATO RS.

Qpeoification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,167, dated May 6,1879; application filed February 10, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that "I, EDWARD ScnMm'r, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Apparatus for Preparing and Renovating Feathers, Hair,&c., which improvement is fully set forth in the following specificationand accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of theapparatus embodying iny invention. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view thereof.Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section in line w m, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isa top view of a detached portion.

. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in theseveral figures.

My invention consists of a feather-renovator having a towercommunicating with the steaming or boiling chamber, and provided with arising and falling cover, whereby the feathers may be readily admittedto said chamber and retained therein and heat prevented from escaping.

It also consists of the steaming-chamber having pipes for admitting bothchemicals and fresh water when required, the surface or liningstretching over the spaces or communications between the connectedchamber, whereby heat may be passed into and out of the main chamberwithout permitting the escape of the feathers.

It also consists of a chamber having. an abrasive inner surface fordivesting the feathers of blood, shreds, &c.

It further consists of a chamber having means for drying and dischargingthe prepared or renovated feathers.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a steaming or boiling chamber orcylinder properly mounted, and B a beater, which is located within saidchamber, and its supporting-shaft B receives rotary motion in anysuitable manner.

Rising from the chamber A is a tower, (J, which communicates with thesame, and within said tower is fitted snugly a cover or cap, D, to whichare connected cords or chains or, which pass around pulleys I),supported on the cross-piece of standards b, secured to the tower, saidstandards also forming the guides for the cover or cap D.

Leading into the bottom or side of the chamber A is a steam-pipe, E, andinto the top thereof a pipe, E, having two branches, 0 c. The bottom ofthe chamber is also provided with drip or draw-off cock 6!, fordischarging the condensed steam and other fluids collected in thechamber.

F represents a door covering the outlet 6 of the chamber A, which dooris securely held in position by means of a bar or projection, engagingwith hooks f at the sides of the chamber, and a fastening-rod, f,likewise engaging with said hooks. Suitable packing is applied to thedoor F or walls of the chamber A, in order to provide steam-tight jointsbetween them.

G represents a wringer or press, which consists of elastic or softrollers g, mounted on a frame, 9, and an endless apron, h, which ispassed between said rollers g and around rollers h h h", also mounted onthe frame 9', whereby said apron is stretched in somewhat quadrilateralform, the two upper sides inclinin gfrom the rollers g to the endrollers, h h.

A suitable table and platform are at opposite ends of the wringer. Theconstruction of the wringer is no part of the present invention.

H represents a properly-supported chamber or cylinder, whose inner face.is lined with gauze or other abrasive substance, as at k, and withinsaid chamber is mounted a beater, J, Whose shaft J receives rotarymotion in any suitable manner.

A pipe, K, communicates with the space or offset m at the top of thechamber H, and with a fan, blower, or conveyer, L, leading into achamber, M, which supports the cylinder H, and contains a heating-coil,N, and steam-pipes P, the coil N and pipes P having a common inlet-pipe,P, whereby, by properly turning a cook, a, steam may be admitted bothinto said coil N and pipes P, as required.

The cylinder J communicates with the chamber M and oifset m through thegauze k.

The abrasive lining is of the chamber H consists of gauze conforming tothe cylindrical shape of said chamber and stretched across the spacesbetween the offset m and chamber H and chambers 11 M, thus permittingtheir communication without allowing escape of the feathers into saidoffsetm or chamber M.

The operation is as follows: The cover or lid D is elevated and a properquantity of feathers dropped through the tower G into the chamher A, andsaid cover is then lowered so as to rest on the top of the feathers andclose the tower from above. Steam is now admitted into the chamberthrough pipe E, and rotation imparted to the beater B. Chemicals orfluids that will destroy worms, moths, &c., such as alum and ammonia,are then introduced into the chamber by means of a pipe communicatingwith the branch 0; and when the feathers have been duly treated by thehot fluid the supply of steam and chemical fluid is cut off, and freshwater run into the chamber by means of a pipe communicating with thebranch 0, so as to wash thefeathers, after which the door F is openedand the feathers are removed, they being found in soft condition. Duringthe treatment of the feathers they are prevented from being blownthrough the tower by means of the cover or cap D, which also, in ameasure, forms a sufficiently tight joint to prevent escape of heat. Thetemperature of the chamber A may be observed in a thermometer, p, whichis suitably applied. The feathers are now subjected to the pressure ofthe wringer G, so as to remove the wa ter and moisture, they beingplaced on the apron It, to which movement is imparted in any suitablemanner, and they enter the rollers g, the water or moisture running offtheinclined portion of the apron as the feathers ascend the same. Afterthe pressure has been exerted the apron carries the feathers from therollers, and they roll from the apron to a place of collection. The doorof the cylinder H is now opened and the wet and softened feathers areplaced therein and the door tightly closed. The heater J is rotated,steam admitted into the coil N, and the fan L operated. As the feathersare driven around in the cylinder J they are subjected to abrasion ofthe gauze or roughened inner surface, k, of the cylinder, and allforeign substances adhering to the feathers are removed thereby. Heatfrom the coil N is driven through the chamber M into the cylinder 11 bymeans of the fan or blower L, and thus the feathers are dried. The heatis returned through the pipe K to the fan or blower, and again directedto the cylinder B, so as to be reused therein. When the feathers areabout sufliciently dry the filaments will be found folded or packed onthe stems. The cock n is turned and a few puffs of live steam areinjected into the cylinder, thus spreading the filaments and impartingelasticity to the feathers. The steam is now shut off and more hot airis directed to the feathers, so as to complete the dryingoperation,after which the door of the cylinder is opened and the feathers fly outin a properly-prepared or renovated state.

It is evident that hair, moss, and other upholsterin g substances may betreated or pre pared and renovated by the above means.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination, with thefeather-receiving chamber A, of the tower 0, having supporting andguiding standards b, and the rising and falling cover or cap D.

2. The chamber A, in combination with the inlet-pipe E, having twobranches, 0 0, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The chamber A, provided with tower 0, door F, double branch pipe E,and steam-pipe E, substantially as and forthe purpose setforth.

4. The chamber H, with ofiset m, chamber M, and heater J, in combinationwith the gauze k, lining the chamber H, and occupying the communicatingspaces between the chamber H and the offset in and chamber M,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The chamber H, having heater or fan J, in combination with thechamber M, having the heating-coil N and steam pipe or pipes P,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The heating-coil N and steam-pipe P, in combination with theinlet-pipe P, common to both, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

EDWARD SCHMIDT.

Witnesses JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, HENRY PoLsz.

